Feeding device



Feb. 4, 1930. G. F. MATTEsoN FEEDINGy DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1927 Trap/yay j UNITED STA j simple Patented Feb. 4, 1930 j Grenen F. nATfrnsoN,

Tas PATENr OFFICE OF ROCKYHILL., CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOTHE F.'B. SHUSTER COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTI CUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT FEEDING DEVICE Application filed November 21, 1927. Serial No. 234,734.

`My invention relates more especially to that class of feed devices that are employed for operation upon material of `indefinite length to feed it for various purposes, the `5 apparatus being especially suitable for the i purpose of feeding wire in connection with wire straighteningand similar machines, and an object ofmy invention, among others, is the production of a feed device that shall be in construction and particularly eiiicient in operation.` j i One form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objectsherein setout, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved feeding device, with parts broken away to show construction. Figure 2 is a topfview of the same. Figure 3 is a view in sectionon a plane denotedby the dotted line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure f1 is 1a detail isometric view illustrating a fragment of a sprocket wheel and a portion of a chain disconnected therefrom.

" My improved feeding mechanism illustrated and described herein embraces means for effecting a continuous steady movement of material, as an indefinite length of" wire W`30 stock, particularly of the larger dimensions,

although not necessarily restricted in its use to such, which mechanism includes a driving shaft 5 having means, as a driving pulley 6, for imparting rotation thereto. A supporting shaft 7 is mounted insomewhat 4close proximity to the driving shaft, and sprocket wheels'8-9 are supported by said shafts, one s rocket wheel 4being secured to the driving shaft to bedriven thereby.` j

.40 `Afeeding member 10, in the form of a `sprocket Nohain, 1s supported upon and engages with the` `teeth of the sprocket wheels in a manner similar to structuresof this class. This chain, however, is of particularconstrucl5 tion and comprisesmain or gripping links 11 and connecting links 12 comprised in the feeding member 10.` The gripping links are arranged in pairs located side-by sidewhich pairs are connected by pairs of connecting links 12, the members of which are preferably located outsidenof` the gripping links. Pins 13 are arranged to pivotallysecure the meeting ends of the main and connecting links. j w j rlhe ends of each pairof gripping links opposite the pins 13 are provided with gripping jaws 14 projecting outwardlypreferably substantially at right angles to the main partof the link, these jaws on each pair of links beingoppositely disposed and formed to gripmaterial, asa length of wire 15, between them. Clampscrewslda're engaged within threaded openings in that end of each sponding shape in theends of the links 12.

In the construction herein shown said por-` tions `17 and the corresponding holes are flattened on opposite sides. This construction causes thetconnecting links toact as levers `to turn the screws 16 inthe threaded o enings in the gripping jaws 11, thereby e ecting opening an closing movements of said jaws. j j

In the constructionlshown herein, referring to Figure l,.the.threads on` the clamp screws are so formed that as the chain members successively arrive at the upper part` of the sprocket wheel 9 at the left and change their direction of movement froma curved path described by the sprocket wheel to the straight path between the two wheels, the links 12 will operateto turnl the `feed screws in a direction to close the gripping jaws, and thereby grip a length of wire 15, and as the link members leave said straight path, at the upper part of the sprocket wheel 8 located at the right in Figure 1, and enter the curved path around said wheel the feed screws will be partially rotated in an opposite direction to that just described and the jaws 14 will be opened and the wire 15 will thereby be released. A similar movement of the jaws will take place at the bottoms of each of said sprocket wheels, but in the arrangement herein shown this operation at these points is of no consequence. r v Y The gripping links 11 are each provided with supports 18 that coact to resist the force put upon said jaws in gripping an article between them. In the structure shown these supports project from the links in a direction opposite to that in which the jaws project, the ends of these' supports being formed lto abut one against the other. These supports pass along grooves 19 formed in the peripheries of the sprocket wheels and prefera ly cutting through the `teeth 20 thereof, that is, thev teeth are arranged in pairs, the members ofea'ch pair being located on opposite sides of the groove.

In accordance with the provisions of the 1patent statutes I have described the vprinciples of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

`ping jaws, means for imparting feeding movement to said jaws, means rotatably mounted for closing said jaws, and means eective by reason of the feeding movement of said jaws to swing said jaw closing means on its pivot to operate said jaws.

3. A feed device including a pair of gripping jaws, means for imparting feeding movement to said jaws, a feed screw engaged with threaded holes in-said'jaws, a lever secured to said feed screw, and means effective by the movement of said jaws to operate said lever.

4. A feed device including jaw members comprising a pair of gripping jaws, said members being mounted to move in relatively angularly disposed paths, means for imparting movementto said jaws along said Vsupporting member, until after said jaws have passed beyond said supporting member.`

6. A feed device including a supporting wheel, a feeding member supported by said wheel and including a pair of gripping links and a pair of connecting links, a feed screw engaged with threadedfopenings in said gripping links, and means for securing a conietctting link to said feed screw "to vrotate the 7 A feed device including atoothed sui-p-V porting wheel rotatablymounted and a chain composed of links to engage said teeth, said chain including a pair` of gripping links having gripping jaws, a pair of connecting links, a feed screw engaged with threaded openings in said jaws, and means for securing a ,connecting link to said feed screw.

8. A feed device including a rotatably mounted toothed supporting wheel, a chain extending about said vwheel and composed of pairs of gripping links having gripping jaws, connecting links for connecting the pairs of gripping'links, a feed screw engaged with threaded openings in said gripping links, and means for-securing a connecting link to each of said feed screws.

9. A feed device vincluding a rotatably mounted toothed supporting wheel, a feed chain supported about the periphery of said wheel and including pairs of Igripping links with gripping jaws thereon, connecting links for connecting adjacent pairs yof grippping links, said connecting and gripping links being arranged ,for/engagement of said teeth between them, a feedV screw engaging a threaded hole in each pair of gripping links, and means for securing a connecting link to each of said feed screws. v 10. A feed device including a rotatably mounted toothed supporting wheel having a peripheral groove, a feed chainsupported about the periphery of said toothed wheel and including a pair of gripping links having gripping jaws, a feed screw engagedl with threaded holes in said links, supports projecting from said jaws into said lgroove in said wheel, said chain also including a connecting link, and means for securing said connecting link to said feed screw.

. 11. A feeding device including a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws, means for imparting feeding moyement to said jaws, and

means actuated by reason of a change in relative positions of said pairs of jaws for effecting opening and closing movements thereof. 12. A feeding device including a plurality of pairs of gripping `javvs pivotaliy united, means for imparting feeding movement to said jaws, and means actuated by reason of w an angular change in the relativepositions of said pairs of jaws for effecting opening and closing movements thereof.

GEORGE F. MATTEsoN. 

